Culinary Heroines & Heroes

Dora Greenlaw Peacock

Born in New Orelans in 1903, Dora Greenlaw spent some
of her youth in Blacksburg, attended Hollins College, and
graduated from Sophie Newcomb College. She went on to
teach at the Episcopal School in Vicksburg, Mississippi,
and was named Dean-Elect. In 1928 she married Dr. Markham
Peacock who chaired the English Department at Virginia
Polytechinic Institute from 1960 to 1966. They traveled
widely and enjoyed entertaining VPI students in their
Draper Road home. Dora Greenlaw Peacock's extensive
collection of cookbooks was donated to the Department of
Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise by her husband,
following her death in 1983.

Laura Jane Harper

The first woman to be an academic dean at VPI, Dr.
Laura Jane Harper served the College of Home Economics
from 1960 to 1980. She joined the Home Economics faculty
at VPI in 1948, but took an educational leave in 1951 to
pursue her doctorate at Michigan State University. In
January 1956 she returned to VPI as a full professor,
resumed teaching, and completed her dissertation. In
addition to teaching, Dr. Harper also conducted research
for the Virginia Agricultural Experimental Station as
director of home economics research. In 1958, Dr. Harper
began her administrative career at VPI when she agreed to
be the interim department head for Home Economics. During
her career she taught graduate and undergraduate
nutrition courses; her research focused on food habits,
food and culture, nutrition in international development,
and nutrient metabolism. She was known for her leadership
in academia and professional associations (e.g. American
Dietetic Association, American Home Economics
Association, International Federation of Home Economics).
[See also the online thesis A
Fighter to the End: The Remarkable Life and Career of
Laura Jane Harper.]